Transmission



Aug. 6, 1946. Q BU ZBA 2,405,135

TRANSMISSION Filed July 5, 1940. 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTGRNEY Patented Aug.6, 1946 TRANSMISSION Orville K. Butzbach, South Bend, Ind, assignor toThe Studebaker Corporation, South Bend, Ind., a corporation of DelawareApplication July 5, 1940, Serial No. 343,938

.6 Claims.

This invention relates to transmissions and more particularly isdirected to control means for increasing the efiiciency of a fluidcoupling or torque converter used in conjunction with a gear box fortransmitting power from the engine into the gear box to drive a, vehiclesuch as an automobile, truck or the like.

It has been found in connection with torque converters and fluidcouplings heretofore used that considerable difiiculty is encountered inthe operation of such members due to the fact that the fluid used undersome conditions of operation heats up to a sufficient extent to, ineffect, burn out the member and render it practically inoperative. Thisis especially true in connection with devices using a. closed circuitwhich, when high torque is imposed through the member, produce heatingof the fluid to an extent such that it loses its viscosity andconsequently its torque transmitting ability.

Even in devices of the type in which an open circuit is employed therate of flow of the fluid is sometimes insuflicient to eiiect thedesired cooling and still maintain the desired pressure within the unit.

The present invention has for one of its primary objects the provisionof a fluid coupling or torque converter unit which is so designed as toprovide for automatic discharge of the fluid from the unit when thetemperature of the fluid reaches a predetermined point andsimultaneously therewith provides for introduction into the unit, underpressure, of cooled fluid at a substantially greater rate than in normaloperation to compensate for the faster rate of withdrawal requiredbecause of the increase in temperature of the fluid within the unit.

In this invention I preferably provide thermostatic means in the housingof the unit responsive to a predetermined temperature therein foropening a valve in the fluid line to provide an increased withdrawal ofliquid from the unit and an increased volume of liquid to pass to theunit from the fluid reservoir and cooler. In addition, thermallyresponsive means within the unit itself is provided which operates whenthe liquid within the unit reaches a predetermined temperature to open avalve effective for dumping the heated liquid out of the unit at a muchgreater rate than normal leakage therethrough.

Still another feature of the present invention is the provision of afluid reservoir arranged to function also as a cooler to insure coolingof the liquid withdrawn from the unit with the provision of anelectrically controlled thermally re- An! sponsive valve which functionsto control the flow of fluid passing into the reservoir from the unitand thus in turn controls the delivery from the reservoir into the unitby the pump.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will appear morefully from the following detailed description which, taken inconjunction with the accompanying drawings, will disclose to thoseskilled in the art the particular construction and operation ofpreferred forms of the present invention.

In the drawings:

Figure l i a somewhat diagrammatic elevational view of a power unitassembly embodying the present invention;

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view through a torque converter unitshowing the thermostatic means for controlling operation of the liquidcirculating system;

Figure 3 is an enlarged detailed view of the thermally responsive valvein the impeller of the torque converter;

Figure 4 is a transverse section taken on line 4-4 of Figure 2;

Figure 5 is an elevational view of a modified form of valveconstruction;

Figure 6 is a plan View of the valve shown in Figure 5;

Figure 7 is a vertical sectional view through a fluid coupling includinga thermally controlled valve mechanism in the impeller;

Figure 8 is an enlarged sectional view through the valve mechanism shownin Figure '7;

Figure 9 is a sectional view taken on line 8-9 of Figure 8;

Figure 10 is a sectional view of a modified form of a thermallyresponsive valve;

Figure 11 is a sectional view of the electrically controlled valve inthe fluid return line;

Figure 12 is an elevational view of the valve gate shown in Figure 11;and

Figure 13 is a partial sectional view of a further form of theinvention.

Referring now in detail to the embodiment of the invention shown inFigures 1 to 4, inclusive,

the main engine or power source is indicated at 5 and may be an internalcombustion engine or Diesel engine of conventional design provided witha pulley 3 carried by the crank shaft and adapted to drive, through thefan belt l3, the fan pulley l secured to the fan shaft carrying the fa8. A suitable supporting bracket 9 is mounted at one side of the engineblock for carrying a rotatable shaft Ill which at one end is providedwith a pulley l2 driven by the fan belt l3 and at the opposite end isconnected to a fluid pump l4 having an inlet connection and an outletconnection I6.

Mounted rearwardly of the engine 5 and secured to the flywheel housingthereof is a housing member il' adapted to enclose a fluid torqueconverter or the like, the housing member ll having a rearward extensionl8 within which is located the gearing of the transmission and out ofwhich extends the output shaft is provided with the companion flange 2:)of a universal joint adapted to be connected to the propeller shaft ofthe vehicle.

The housing i l, as shown more in detail in Figure 2, is providedinternally with the stator blades 22 preferably cast integrallytherewith. Cooperating therewith is the rotatable impeller 23 secured inthe flanged end 24 of the shaft 25 of the engine by means ofcircumferentially spaced bolts 22%. referably, the impeller member 23 isprovided with a starter gear 27 whereby suitable starting mechanism canbe geared thereto for turning over the engine for starting, J ournaledin the recessed end 28 of the crank shaft 25 is a driven shaft 29 havinga splined portion 36 upon which is mounted the hub 32 of the turbine orrotor 33. This shaft 29 extends rearwardly through a suitably journaledportion 34 formed in the housing ll and thence into the transmissionportion 13 of the housing. The operation. of the torque converter in andof itself is more or less conventional and therefore no detaileddescription of its construction or operation is believed necessary,since the present invention is equally applicable to all standard typesof torque converters.

The housing I! is provided with an inlet passageway 35 connected throughthe nipple 36 to a fluid input line 31 connected at Hi to the outletside of the pump l4. From the passageway 35 fluid under pressure isintroduced through the port 38 into the chamber 39 and thence finds itsway through the passageway 40 into the interior of the torque converter.Obviously, if the torque converter rotates to .drive the shaft 29 acertain portion of this fluid is discharged centrifugally through theoutlet indicated generally at 42 and thence runs downwardly into thesump or recess 43 formed at the lower end of the housing IT.

A suitable outlet connection 44 is provided for the sump 43 and fluid isconducted through the conduit 45 to the inlet side of a valve generallyindicated at 46. From the valve 46 a suitable conduit 47 conducts thefluid into the upper end of a fluid reservoir 48 mounted in any suitablemanner on the side of the engine block. The reservoir 48 has a drainplug 59 for withdrawing sediment therefrom, and is also provided with anoutlet connection 50 extending through a conduit 52 to the inletconnection |-5 on the pump M. The reservoir 48 is preferably providedwith radi ally extending flns 53 which act as heat dissipating means formaintaining the fluid within the reservoir relatively cool. Similarly,the entire piping for the unit enclosed within the housing !'l isdisposed at the side of the engine block where it will be subjected toair passing over the engine and consequently maintained cool.

Considering now Figures 11 and 12, the valve 46 includes a valve bodyformed into cooperating halves 54 and 55 which are suitably closed bymeans of screws 56. Within the valve body there is mounted a slidingvalve member or gate 57, shown more in detail in Figure 12, having avalve stem or guide 58 extending outwardl through the packing 59 carriedwithin the nut Bil. The stem 53 is adapted to extend into a solenoid 62which has one terminal of the coil thereof connected to ground throughthe conductor 63 and the opposite terminal thereof connected through theconduit 64 to the thermally sensitive member and through the switch 66to the battery 67.

The switch 55 may be a conventional ignition switch or the like and thethermally sensitive member 55 as shown in Figure 7 may be provided witha pair of contact members 68 and 63 extending into the interior of thehousing ll and formed of suitable bimetal or the like so as to warp intocontact in response to a predetermined temperature within the housing,This closes the circuit between the battery 6'5 and the solenoidenergizing the solenoid and thereby exerting an upward lifting force onthe valve stem 53. The valve member 5?, as shown clearly in Figure 12,has a slotted or bifurcated end portion defining the opening and alsoprovided with an aperture 72,

The aperture l2 in normal position of the valve disposed in the valvepassageway 23% as to provide for metered flow of fluid from the con--duit 45 to the conduit 4-7, Upon energizing of the solenoid the valve israised against the pressure of the spring "93 encircling the valve stem,thereby moving the slotted portion it into the passageway to provide afull open port between the conduits 45 and 4i, thereby allowing the pumpto withdraw the maximum amount of fluid from the sump 43 in the housingll.

Considering now in detail the valve members carried by the impeller 23,f which three or four may be provided about the periphery of theimpeller, each valve member comprises a valve body portion l5 secured tothe interior of the radially outer periphery of the impeller by means ofcap bolts 76. It is to be understood that the valves may be arrangedadjacent the hub of the impeller, as shown in Figure 13. The valve body55 is provided with a radially extending port or passageway H which iscounterbored as indicated at '33 to receive a ball check valve '19normally held closed by the spring (it. Disposed radially inwardly ofthe ball check valve '19 is a rotatable valve plug 82 which projectslaterally of the valve body and has its projecting end 83 connected to acoiled thermally responsive element M. The element 84 is adapted toexpand and contract in response to temperature changes thereby exertinga rotative force upon the end 3-3 of the plug 82, thus rotating thevalve plug from a position in which the passageway 85 thereof isdisposed crossways of the valve passageway 7! into the position shown inFigure 3 in which the valve port is open. Opening of this valve portwhen th impeller is rotating at relatively high speed results in oilpassing radially outwardly through the passageway '.'l and, due to thecentrifugal force, the ball check valve '19 is displaced radiallyoutwardly from its seat against the pressure of the spring allowing discharge of fluid from the interior of the torque converter radiallyoutwardly through the valve and consequently into the sump 43.

Preferably the system is so designed that the thermally sensitiveelement 65 will energize the circuit to the solenoid 62 to open thevalve 6% either simultaneously with or slightly prior to movement of thevalve plug 82 into open position. As the valve plug moves to openposition and the fluid is discharged from the torque converter into theconduit 45 the pump will be capable of withdrawing an increased volumeof fluid, cooling the same in the reservoir 48 and then forcing thisincreased volume of fluid back to the torque converter through thepassageway 35 and port 38.

In the valve construction shown in Figures 5 and 6 the impeller 23 isprovided with a series of circumferentially spaced radial ports 90communicating with the interior thereof. The ports 90 are adapted to benormally closed by means of rotatable valve member 92 which valve memberis provided with port openings 93 adapted, when rotated about the pin94, to aline with the openings 90 providing discharge of fluid from theinterior of the torque converter through the alined openings 90 and 93into the sump 43.

To produce this rotation the valve member 92 is provided with means forreceiving the end 95 of a coiled thermally responsive element which atits opposite end is anchored to the pin 94, this pin being secured inthe impeller 23 with the valve member 92 being rotatable with respectthereto. Upon heating of the fluid within the impeller the element 96tends to expand thereby tending to wrap itself in a clockwise directionabout the pin 94. As a result, the end 95 imposes a rotating thrust onthe valve body 92 moving its openings 93 into alinement with the ports90 in the impeller thereby providing for discharge of the fluid fromwithin the torque converter.

It is apparent that either of the valve mechanisms shown in Figures 3and 4, or 5 and 6 can be provided in the torque converter shown inFigure 2.

In Figures 7 to 9 I have disclosed a fluid coupling arrangementembodying the present invention. In this form the housing I'I' enclosesthe impeller I and the rotor I02 forming the component parts of thefluid coupling. The impeller I00 is bolted or otherwise secured to theflanged end of the crankshaft I03 of the engine while the rotor I02 issplined, as indicated at I04, to the driven shaft I journaled at itsforward end in a recessed portion of the crankshaft I03 and at itsopposite end in the Web I06 of the housing IT to extend into thetransmission. Fluid from the outlet side of the pump is conductedthrough the conduit 31 and fitting 36 into the coupling through thepassageway and ports 38' in the rotor. At its lower end the housing I1is provided with a sump 43' connected to the fitting 44 of the conduit45.

The impeller I00 is provided adjacent its radial periphery with a seriesof boss portions I01 in each of which is formed a valve passageway I08,as shown in detail in Figure 8, this passageway being normally closed bya ball check valve I09 held in position by the spring I I0. Disposed ina position normal to the passageway I08 is a recessed portion I I2 inwhich is mounted a valve stem member II3 having a collar or piston II4slidably supported in the passageway H2. The opposite end of the valvestem H3 is provided with a slotted opening II5 within which is disposedthe central portion of an arcuate bimetallic thermally responsive memberH6 which at a predetermined temperature is adapted to warp in theopposite direction thereby moving the valve stem II3 to the left asviewed in Figure 8, causing the reduced portion III thereof to move intoalinement with the reduced passageway H8 leading from the valve port I98and providing for discharge of fluid from the passageway I08 into therecess II2. From the recess II2 the fluid is discharged through the portII9 into the sump 43'. A suitable spring I20 is provided to normallymaintain the bushing or collar I22 on the valve stem H3 in position,blocking the passage I I8 but this spring is insufiicient to resist thebiasing force of the thermally responsive element IIG when thepredetermined temperature has been reached. It is to be understood, ofcourse, that centrifugal force will move the ball check valve I09 awayfrom its seat to open the passageway I08 to the interior of thecoupling.

In Figure 10 I have shown a modified form of valve which is disposed ata slight angle with respect to the axis of the impeller I00. In thisform of the invention a suitable valve seat I25 is disposed in a boredout portion I26 located between the valve passageway I21 and I28. Asuitably headed valve member I29 carried in the bushing I30 for slidingmovement engages the valve seat I25 to normally close communicationbetween passageway I21 and I28. However, the outer end of the valvemember I29 indicated at I32 is connected to the bimetallic thermallyresponsive element I33 anchored by the screws I34 to the impeller. Uponwarping of the element I33 in response to a predetermined temperaturethe Valve I29 is moved away from the seat I25 and allows discharge offluid from the interior of the impeller through the passageways I21 andI28 to the ball check valve I35. The check Valve I35 is spring pressedinto closed position but centrifugal force will displace it from itsseat and allow the discharge of fluid outwardly through the passagewayI36 to the sump 43,

In Figure 13 I have provided a structure which may be embodied in theimpeller adjacent its hub portion in place of the peripheral portion.One of the advantages of such a location is the fact that no check valveis necessary to counteract the centrifugal force. It is to be understoodthat while the valve structure in all of the forms of the invention isdisclosed as being located on the impeller it may be located on eitherthe rotor or stator, if so desired.

Considering Figure 13 in detail, the impeller I00 is bolted to the crankshaft I03, as previously described. Adjacent this connection theimpeller is provided with a bore I38 having a tubular seat portion I39and a valve passageway I4I leading to the outside of the unit. Disposedover the bore is a circular disk I40 formed of a bimetal material whichis provided with several apertures I42 for permitting oil or fluid topass therethrough into the bore I38. The disk I40 may -be brazed orotherwise secured to the inner wall of the impeller and is provided withthe extending valve stem I43 normally adapted to have seating engagementat the free end thereof on the valve seat I39. The bimetallic disk I40,when subjected to a predetermined temperature, snaps from the positionshown into a concave position indicated by dotted lines, thus openingthe valve bore I4I allowing the discharge of fluid from the unittherethrough. Such disks are well known and are sold under the tradename of Klixon and can be designed to snap from one position to theother at any desired temperature. With such a construction the snapaction of the valve eliminates any possibility of chattering or the likeand at all times that the temperature within the unit is below thepredetermined point the tension in the disk I40 will serve to press thevalve firmly against its seat.

It is therefore believed apparent that I have provided a novel thermallyresponsive control for insuring the maintenance of the propertemperature of the oil within the torque converter or fluid couplingthereby maintaining the same eflicient regardless of torque and heatproduced therein.

I am aware that various changes may be made in certain details of thepresent invention and I therefore do not intend to be limited except asdefined by the scope and spirit of the appended claims.

Iclaim:

1. In combination, an engine, a fluid torque transmitting unit drivenfrom said engine, a fluid circuit for said unit including a coolingreservoir and a pump, a valve in said circuit externally of said unithaving means for varying the flow of fluid therethrough, electricallyoperable means for actuating said valve, thermally responsive means insaid unit for energizing said actuating means, and secondary thermallyresponsive valve mean in said unit for increasing the rate of dischargeof fluid from said unit upon a predetermined rise in temperature of saidfluid.

2. In a unit having fluid connected driving and driven members, a valvepassageway in the periphery of one of said members, a centrifugallycontrolled check valve in said passageway, a second valve in saidpassageway normally closing the same, and a thermally responsive elementfor opening said second valve.

3. In a unit having fluid connected driving and driven members, a valvepassageway in the periphery of one of said members, a centrifugallycontrolled check valve in said passageway, a

second valve in said passageway normally closing the same, and athermally responsive element for opening said second valve, said secondvalve being disposed anterior to said check valve in said passageway.

4. In a unit having fluid connected driving and driven members, a valvepassageway in the periphery of one of said members, a centrifugallycontrolled check valve in said passageway, a second valve in saidpassageway normally closing the same, and a thermally responsive elementfor opening said second valve, said second valve being located on theoutlet side of said check valve.

5. In a unit having fluid connected driving and driven members, a valvepassageway in the periphery of one of said members, a centrifugallycontrolled check valve in said passageway, a second valve in saidpassageway normally closing the same, and a thermally responsive elementconnected to rotate said second valve to open position underpredetermined temperatures in said unit.

6. In a unit having fluid connected driving and driven members, a valvepassageway in the periphery of one of said members, a centrifugallycontrolled check valve in said passageway, a second valve in saidpassageway normally closing the same, and a thermally responsive elementconnected to shift said second valve axially to valve-open position uponsaid fluid reaching a predetermined temperature.

ORVILLE K. BUTZBACI-I.

